Ray County commissioner briefs Otsego council on MnDOT projects, DMV delays and power-plant drill

Jeanne Holland, Ray County Commissioner, spoke during the open forum July 14 to update the City of Otsego on several regional items: MnDOT project approvals and closures, DMV processing delays, and a recent tabletop exercise simulating a contingency at the NSP power plant.

Holland said MnDOT "gave the okay to go ahead and work on the I thirties or the, 37 project over by Costco," and that the 94 overpass would be closed overnight as part of the 94 project for an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. closure. She said the project team expects to be able to complete the work on schedule, with some isolated night or weekend closures.

On state services, Holland said the DMV is experiencing long lines across the state with "2, 3 hour waits" since April as residents pursue Real IDs and passports; she said passport demand has already matched last year—s annual numbers. On emergency preparedness, Holland described a county tabletop drill simulating an incident at the NSP power plant that included representation from multiple departments. She said officials observed interdepartmental response procedures and that Seth Hansen coordinated much of the exercise; she invited Otsego officials to receive meeting minutes or attend future briefings.

Holland asked whether Monticello and Otsego should be invited to future drills because of their proximity; staff responded that schools within a 10-mile radius would be contacted in a drill. Holland said she would keep the council posted on future briefings and that Seth Hansen, who she identified as Big Lake—s fire chief and a longtime emergency planner, would be a useful presenter for preparedness topics.